Top WSU faculty are recognized for their dedication to excellent teaching

OGDEN, Utah — Twelve of Weber State University’s most beloved faculty members earned the 2026 Presidential Teaching Excellence Award, personally awarded by Interim President Leslie Durham through a series of surprise classroom visits and announcements. 

Winners were nominated by students, staff, and fellow faculty who recognized those making a difference in students’ lives and education. 

“Our faculty teach, mentor, inspire, and foster breakthroughs every single day,” Durham said. “They’re the driving force behind so many great things happening in classrooms, in the community, and in their fields.”

This year’s recipients are: 

  • Nicole Beatty, Teaching & Information Services
     
  • Barrett Bonella, social work and gerontology
     
  • Jason Francis, Teaching & Information Services
     
  • Adam Johnston, physics and astronomy
     
  • Justin Knighton, manufacturing systems engineering
     
  • Jessie Nixon, teacher education
     
  • Tyandra Perez, nursing
     
  • Mary Anne Reynolds, nursing
     
  • Bryant Thompson, business administration and marketing
     
  • Megan Van Deventer, English
     
  • Brent Warnock, communication
     
  • Jordan West, health science

“I love teaching Weber State students,” said Bryant Thompson, business administration professor. “It is the most rewarding aspect of anything I do in my profession. I try to help students feel seen, heard, and valued — and to be equipped and empowered to help others feel the same.”

Thompson received the 2026 Brian T. Davis Presidential Teaching Excellence Award, which is named in honor of a former business administration professor known for being devoted to his students.

“Receiving an award named after Brian Davis is especially meaningful because he served on my senior thesis committee when I was a student here,” Thompson said. “I returned to Weber State because I had many professors like Brian who cared about me, took time to mentor me, and invited me to become a curious and dedicated learner. It’s deeply motivating to have a professor who connects with you and sees your potential, so I try to do that for my students." 

Nursing faculty Perez and Reynolds are the 2026 Annie Taylor Dee Teaching Excellence Award recipients.

Knighton, a manufacturing systems engineering assistant professor, is this year’s Robert L. Marquardt Award recipient.

The Presidential Teaching Excellence Award series was launched in 2018 thanks to a generous endowment gift from Bob and Marcia Harris. Since then, more than 84 faculty have been recognized for their teaching excellence.

Additional funding includes support from the Lawrence T. Dee and Janet T. Dee Foundation, the Management and Training Corporation along with members of the Robert L. Marquardt family, and Brad and Jeni Wilson, who created the Brian T. Davis Outstanding Teacher Award.

Author:

Marketing & Communications

Contact:

Rachel Badali, Public Relations Director
801-626-7948, rachelbadali@weber.edu